Pancake: Why We Always Say Speak to a Vet
⚠️⚠️⚠️EVERY DAY SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WE ARE ASKED TO PROVIDE VETERINARY ADVICE TO PEOPLE WHO CANT BE BOTHERED AND ARE UNWILLING TO PAY A VET⚠️⚠️⚠️
You may remember the heartbreaking story of little Pancake back in May 2022@ Bradford Cat Watch Rescue & Sanctuary
Pancake came to us from a back yard breeder in Bradford..
The story was that she was trapped in a patio door, went to the PDSA for emergency advice, thet the breeder declined treatment offered.
2 weeks later they came knocking on our door with a poorly Pancake, unable to pee or poop without help.
When we xrayed her there was a mysterious foreign body in her stomach however she was too tiny and fragile to remove it AT THAT TIME and we planned to remove it when she was a little stronger.
2 days later we felt Pancake had declined and needed this further investigating.
We were shocked that a feeding tube was found inside her. This has ruptured her stomach and liver causing internal bleeding.
We contacted the breeder to ask if she had ever used a feeding tube?…. she replied ” yes a few times because she wasn’t eating but on the last time she wouldn’t keep still so left her.”
The direct action of the breeder using the feeding tube – unqualified to do so has killed beautiful Pancake.
We are all so angry and devastated.
Another needless death as a result of a back street breeders actions.
This information was passed onto the Authorities and this was the feedback we received….
“Veterinary surgery’ is defined by the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1966 as “the art and science of veterinary surgery and medicine and….shall be taken to include –
- the diagnosis of diseases in, and injuries to, animals including tests performed on animals for diagnostic purposes;
- the giving of advice based upon such diagnosis;
- the medical or surgical treatment of animals; and
- the performance of surgical operations on animals.”
There are a number of exemptions in Schedule 3 to the VSA. These include:
- registered or listed veterinary nurses may carry out medical treatment and minor surgery (not including entry into a body cavity) under the direction of a veterinary surgeon;” Placing a feeding tube
“This procedure has been considered by the RCVS in previous cases and our position is that it would constitute entry into a body cavity and would therefore not be permissible to be undertaken by a layperson.”
The breeder has subsequently been dealt with appropriately.
****This in short means that the breeder should never have placed a feeding tube as it enters a cavity.
The only safe way to use a feeding tube is Nasogastriclly, when it has been placed by a veterinary surgeon and xrayed to ensure it is in the correct position.
A feeding tube should never be placed through the mouth.
It is so easy to kill patients if it is not secured and xrayed as the feed has a 50% chance of ending up in the lungs.
**** this also means that rescues are not qualified ( or allowed)to give veterinary advice, medications or treat animals to pet owners.
It’s not that we are being awkward- it’s simply not allowed, and the reason for this is to protect the animals welfare.
⚠️⚠️⚠️EVERY DAY SEVERAL TIMES A DAY WE AREVASKED TO PROVIDE VETERINARY ADVICE⚠️⚠️⚠️
When an owner rings us and asks for veterinary advice we will always direct them to a vet.